Fluorescent light tube changer



Feb. 27, 1951 J. E. SPR ENGER 2,543,607

F LUORESCENT LIGHT TUBE CHANGER Filed May 5, 1947 '2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN E. SPRENGER 7 ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 Y J, SPRENGER 2,543,607

FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBE CHANGER Filed May 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS INVENTOR. JOHN E.SPRENGER BY WW, M f flW ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBE CHANGER John E.1Sprenger, Northville, Mich.

Application May 5, 1947, Serial No. 745,983

7 Claims.

The present inventionrelates to a fluorescent light tube changer.

Fluorescent lighting has become very popular in recent years but one of the disadvantages lies in the difficulty which has" been encountered in servicing the equipment. Normally the fixtures are supported adjacent'the ceilingand in many installations including industrial usage the fixtures are at a relatively greatheight from the floor.

In order to insert the elongated fluorescent light tubes, the opposite ends'thereof must be intro duced into sockets and thereafter the tube rotated through 90 about a horizontal axis to bring the pins at the end of the tube into contact with the contacts provided in thesockets.

The present invention 'concerns'itself with a tool adapted for usein replacing-thelight tube.

With the foregoing general remarks in mind, it i an object of thepresent invention to provide a tool effective to replace fluorescent light tubes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination tool having mechanism at one end for replacing fluorescent light tubes.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide mechanism for'replacing fluorescent light tubes comprising 'aresilient tube gripping device including linkage for rotating said device through an angle of 90;

More specifically, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a fluorescent light tube changer comprising a handle, a support movable longitudinally of said handle at one end, a resilient tube gripping member pivoted to said support, and

a link interconnecting said member and said handle.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partlyin section of a conventional fluorescent light tube fixture;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary'section on the line 2--2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa side elevation'partly'in' section of" light tubereceptacle i2, astartei l3 sneelight- -2 tube [4. As best seen in Figure 2, the tube receptacle l2 includes a reces l 5 in which are provided a pair of resilient contacts l6 adapted to be engaged by pin contacts I! formed at the end of the light tube 14. A slot I8 is provided in the receptacle which affords passage for the pins I! when they are in vertically aligned position. After the pins have been introduced into th recess 15 the tube is rotated through thus bringing the pins l1 into engagement with the contacts 16.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is illustrated a simple and eflicient mechanism for Inthese figures ing arcuate arm 33 provided with a pivot 34 car-' rying a resilient tube gripping member 35. The tube gripping member '35 is preferably formed of resilient spring metal and is shaped to embrace slightly more than of the tube M. In addition, the interior of the arcuate member 35 is preferably lined with a friction producing material, such for example as felt.

The handle 30 adjacent its end is provided with an. outwardly extending flange 33, and spaced therefrom is a washer 39' secured to the handle 30 as by welding or the'like. Intermediate the flange 38 and the washer 39 is a sleeve so which is rotatable on the handle 3!! but is restrained against longitudinal movement thereon by the flange 38 and the washer 39. Extending laterally fromone side of the sleeve 46 is an arm 4i Interconnecting the sleeve 49 and the member 35 is a link 45 which is pivoted to the arm 4| as indicated at 46 and which is pivoted to the tube gripping member 35 as indicated at 47.

The operation of the light tube changer is believed' apparent from the foregoing description but for clarity it" will be reviewed. Assume that the problem is'to insert a fluorescent light tube into receptacles l2. The light tube is pressed into 7 position in the tube gripping member 35, as illustrated in Figure 3, and it is held therein by virtuev of the resilient nature of the member 35 and is restrained against rotation therein as a result of the provision of the friction lining previously described. The handle 30 is now raised to introduce the pins I! through the slots [8 into the recesses l 5. Itnow remains to rotate the tube l4 through 90" in orderto bring the pins IT into contact with the electrical contacts [6. Since the pins I! are located within the recesses I5, rotation of the tube about a vertical axis is effectively prevented. The operator therefore merely rotates the stafi or handle 30 in a direction to cause the threaded support 32 to move inwardly with respect to the tubular end portion of the handle. This has the eifect of causing the axis of the pivot 34 to move downwardly with respect to the handle 30. However, at this time the link 45 restrains the ivot 41 to movement in an are about the pivot 46. Accordingly, when the pivot axis 34 has been displaced downwardly with respect to the pivot axis 41 a suiiicient distance the gripping member 35 will have been rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure -3, through an arc of 90. At this time it is only necessary to disengage the gripping member 35 from the tube, which is easily done as a result of the resilient nature of the gripping member 35.

The illustrated embodiment is provided with the threaded connection between the nut 3| and the threaded support 32 because of the'positive nature of the action resulting. It is appreciated, however, that other means for effecting movement of the support longitudinally of the handle could be provided, and the substitution of such other means is of course within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is illustrated a tool for replacing fluorescent light tubes which incidentally is shown with means for replacing starters. In this case there is provided an elon gated tubular handle I carrying a nut H at one end thereof. Adjacent the nut II the handle is formed outwardly to provide a flange 12, and a washer I3 is provided adjacent the aforementioned end of the handle. Intermediate the flange 72 and the washer 13 is a sleeve 14 which is rotatably mounted on the handle but which is prevented from moving longitudinally thereof by the flange 12 and the washer 13.

In threaded engagement with the nut H is a threaded support 15 having a laterally extending arcuate arm 16. A resilient tube gripping member 1! is pivoted to the arm TB, as indicated at 18. The member 11 may be in all respects identical with the member 35 previously described. Extending laterally from the sleeve 14 is an arm 80. Interconnecting the arm 80 and the tube gripping member 11 is a link 8| which is pivoted to the member 11, as indicated at 82, and which is pivoted to the arm 80 as indicated at 83. This mechanism operates in the same ma iner as the mechanism previously described in connection with Figures 3 and 4. Extending longitudinally of the tubular handle H1 is a tubular member 85. The member 85 extends beyond the opposite end of the handle Ill and is formed to provide a plurality of starter gripping fingers 86 and 81, one of which preferably is provided with an inwardly projecting ledge 88 against which the bottom of the starter rests so as to positively prevent inward displacement of the starter during its insertion into its receptacle.

Means are provided for preventing or limiting rotation of the tubular member 85 with respect to the tubular handle I0 and these means may take the form of a spring 90 having an integral pin 9| thereon projecting through an opening in the tubular member 85 into an elongated slot 92 formed in the tubular handle 10.

In this case the tubular member 85 extends the full lengthof the handle .10 to a point closely adjacent to the inner end of the threaded support 15 and is connected thereto. The means for connecting the tubular member to the inner end of the threaded support 15 should be such as to insuresimultaneous movement of the parts longitudinally of the handle while at the same time permitting relative rotation therebetween. A convenient manner of effecting this connection is to provide a partial ball on the inner end of the threaded support 15 and to form the adjacent end of the tubular member 85 around the ball as indicated at 96.

In this case inward movement of the tubular member 85 with respect to the handle, so as to bring the clamping fingers 86 and 81 into engagement with a starter, is effected from the opposite end of the handle by rotating the tube changer and its support 15 relative to the nut H so as to effect the appropriate longitudinal movement of the member 85 with respect to the handle. In the device illustrated the operation of the tube changer is identical with that of the tube changer illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. That is, the tube is inserted into its receptacles and thereafter the handle is rotated so as to effect longitudinal movement of the threaded support 15 relative to the handle, resulting in rotation of the tube supporting member 11 about its pivot axis 18. However, if preferred, it will be apparent that the connection between the tubular member 85 and the inner end of the threaded support 15 could be such as to prevent relative rotation between the parts, in which case actuation of the tube changer about its pivot axis 18 could be effected from the opposite end of the handle by gripping the outwardly extending portion of the tubular member 85 and rotating the handle 10. This has the result of preventing placing a strain on the pins of the light tube, although it has been found that such a construction is not ordinarily necessary.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved combination tube and starter changer and the specific tube changer and the specific starter changer in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device of the character described comprising an elongated handle, a support movable axially of said handle, a member for gripping a tube with its axis transverse to the axis of said handle pivoted to said support, and a link extending between said member and said. handle to effect rotation of said member about its pivot axis upon relative movement axially of said handle between said handle and said support.

2. A device of the character described comprising an elongated handle, a support threaded to and movable axially of said handle, a member for gripping a tube with its axis transverse to the axis of said handle pivoted to said support, and a link extending between said member and said handle to effect rotation of said member about its pivot axis upon relative movement axially of said handle between said handle and said support.

3. A deviceof the character described comprising an elongated handle, a support threaded to and movable axially of said handle, a member for gripping a tube with its axis transverse to the axis of said handle pivoted to said support, a sleeve rotatably carried by said handle, means preventing movement of said sleeve along said handle, and a link extending between said member and said sleeve to efiect rotation of said member about its pivot axis upon relative movement axially of said handle between said handle and said support.

4. A device of the character described comprising a tubular handle, a nut rigidly secured to one end of said handle, a threaded element extending through said nut and beyondthe end of said handle, an arm extending laterally from the outer end of said element, a spring clip shaped to engage a fluorescent light tube pivoted to said arm, a sleeve rotatably secured to said handle adjacent said one end, means preventing movement of said sleeve along said handle, and a link connecting said sleeve and said clips.

5. A device of the character described comprising a tubular handle, a nut rigidly secured to one end of said handle, a threaded element extending through said nut and beyond the end of said handle, an arm extending laterally from the outer end of said element, a spring clip shaped to engage a fluorescent light tube pivoted at one edge to said arm, a sleeve rotatably secured to said handle adjacent said one end, means preventing movement of said sleeve along said handle, and a link connecting said sleeve and a portion intermediate the edges of said clip.

6. A device of the character described comprising a tubular handle, a nut rigidly secured to one end of said handle, a threaded element extending through said nut and beyond the end of said handle, an arm extending laterally from the outer end of said element, a trough shaped spring clip shaped to engage a fluorescent light tube pivoted at one edge of said arm, a sleeve rotatably secured to said handle adjacent said one end, means preventing movement of said sleeve along said handle, and a link connecting said sleeve and a portion intermediate the edges of said clip.

7. A device for inserting and removing elongated fluorescent light tubes from fixtures, which comprises a tube clamping element, means for pivotally supporting the tube clamping element at one side thereof, an actuator for said tube clamping element pivotally connected thereto at a point intermediate the sides thereof, and means for effecting relative longitudinal movement between said first mentioned means and said actuator, said last mentioned means including relatively rotatable engaging helical portions effective upon relative rotation to produce the relative longitudinal movement between said first mentioned means and said actuator.

JOHN E. SPRENGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 118,818 Ritchie Sept. 12, 1871 1,177,915 Aine Apr. 4, 1916 2,403,666 Lubetsky July 9, 1946 2,429,345 Davis Oct. 1, 1947 

